After a raucous 55-52 loss in the Battle of I-25, New Mexico State returns home to Aggie Memorial Stadium with a formidable opponent waiting.

Who: Fresno State (1-2) at New Mexico State (0-4) 

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m. MT 

Where: Aggie Memorial Stadium; Las Cruces, New Mexico 

Watch: LIVE on FloFootball

Week 5 visitor Fresno State marks the Aggies’ third opponent in 2019 that won at least 11 games a season ago. In coach Jeff Tedford’s second season, the Bulldogs won their first Mountain West Conference title since 2013 and finished ranked in the top 25 at 12-2. 

A pair of heartbreaking losses to Power Five conference opponents USC and Minnesota dropped Fresno State to an 0-2 start. The Bulldogs got into the win column in Week 4 against Sacramento State. 

“There is a lot of work to do. There are a lot of mistakes that we need to clean up,” Tedford said in his postgame press conference after the 34-20 decision.

Fresno State is New Mexico State’s second opponent from the Mountain West in as many weeks, coming on the heels of a shootout with rival New Mexico. 

Build On Offense

Despite the loss in Albuquerque in Week 4, the Aggies may have gotten the spark they needed moving forward. New Mexico State’s 52 points almost doubled up the 27 points posted in the first three games of the season combined. 

The Aggies got production in both the passing game from Josh Adkins, who threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns, and in the rushing attack. Running back Jason Huntley’s 114 yards on just 12 carries helped set the table, with Adkins delivering on three more touchdowns on the ground. The two working in tandem was reminiscent of Tyler Rogers and Larry Rose III doing their thing in the 2017 bowl campaign. 

“It let the team know, that’s who we can be. That’s who we are,” Huntley said at his media availability on Tuesday. “Us going out there and doing that gave everybody some confidence.”

Fresno State is the fourth Aggie opponent that produced a No. 42 or better scoring defense in 2018: Washington State (42 at 23.3 points per game); Alabama (12 at 17.8); San Diego State (32 at 22.2); and the Bulldogs were a remarkable third in the nation at 13.2 points allowed per game.

It’s a new year, and turnover across almost every position on the starting defense has seen Fresno State take a step back. The Bulldogs are allowing a shade below 30 points per game, and rank No. 86 in passing defense at 246.3 yards allowed per game. 

Wide receivers Naveon Mithcell and Tony Nicholson's ability to spread the field and opening up rushing lanes for Huntley and Adkins will be critical. 

Bulldogs On the Run

Stopping the run has been a challenge for the New Mexico State defense. The Aggies rank No. 122 nationally at 238.25 yards given up per game, but the nature of how those yards came differ. 

Alabama physically batters opponents with a try-and-stop-us rushing style. San Diego State’s approach isn’t much different. New Mexico came at New Mexico State with a multi-faceted approach. The Lobos abandoned the triple option-influenced approach of Bob DeBesse a few seasons ago but showed elements last week with quarterback Tevaka Tuioti ripping off 8.4 yards per carry on seven runs. 

The Aggies can expect a similar look this week from Fresno State’s Jorge Reyna. The dual-threat Reyna torched USC for 88 yards in Week 1 and gained 36 against Sacramento State. The Bulldogs rely primary on talented Ronnie Rivers to shoulder most of the run-game responsibility, but Reyna’s wheels give a defense something to consider. 

“With a lot of young guys out there, you expect some growing pains,” linebacker Javahn Ferguson said at his media availability. “It’s been different problems to show up in different games.” 

On the Hunt For a Return Touchdown

With multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2017 and 2018, Huntley embarked on his senior season with the NCAA record in reach. Four players ran back seven in their careers. 

Huntley’s average thus far in 2019 is a career-best, but his 98 yards have come on just two opportunities. He’s yet to go to the house. 

Actually having the chance to break one off isn’t up to Huntley, but he’s determined to capitalize when the opening comes. 

“They’re kicking it the opposite side, [or] they’d rather kick it out-of-bounds or pooch it,” he told reporters on Tuesday.  

“I gotta trust my speed. It’s been a while since they kicked it to me. If I get an opportunity, I will return it,” he added.